Research Institute of Experimental Medicine, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Developer of the phagocytosis theory I.I.Mechnikov forecasted the most fruitful directions of its development. Macrophages express on the plasma membranes broad spectrum of receptors, which mediate their interaction with altered organism’s own components as well as with exogenous agents, including various microorganisms. Recognition leads to changes of expression of surface molecules, enhancement of phagocytic activity as well as production and secretion of cytokines, presentation functions, signaling and genes expression. This reflected on maintenance of homeostasis, as well as on host defense effectiveness, including mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2008, No. 5, P. 4—10